During the bustle of Wednesday’s National Signing Day, Indiana-bound Harrison Petts had to send one of the longer fax messages.

It was of the international variety, arriving from La Plata, a suburb of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The latest site of his continual soccer education, Petts is holing up with reigning South American champion club Estudiantes de La Plata. He’s broadening his scope of the game and sharpening his skill during yet another international foray.

Petts was already a member of the SuperElite Discover Europe tour last summer and is linked with the other 17 players who are all finding success as naturally as they dispatched of European competition last July-August.

“That trip was pretty awesome and I think it made me a more well-rounded player,” Petts said. I was able to learn a lot about different styles of play and see what aspects other countries focus on.”

Petts can say the same about his current trip. One of his greatest attributes as a player is his adaptability, his feel for the game and the right play. But even Petts is finding himself out of his element in Argentina.

“I’m burning up in the sun right now,” he said. “It’s a totally different style of soccer than I’ve ever played but I’m learning a lot. I’ll be here for about another month and I’m just learning all that I can.”

The last six months have amounted to one big learning experience for Petts though the findings have mostly been about himself.

Upon returning from Europe, Petts was forced to miss most of his high school season because of a torn LCL. In a display of grit and quick recovery, he made it back for the latter stages of the playoffs and recorded four goals in the final four games, leading his squad to the Indiana state championship.

But the honors were just beginning for Petts as he was named the Indiana High School Player of the Year and took the state’s Mental Attitude Award, which is the highest honor given to a prep student athlete. Naturally, NSCAA/adidas All-American recognition followed as he joined Discover Europe™ teammates Kovi Konowiecki, Zach Barnes, Soony Saad and Josh Gatt.

When he returns from his South American voyage, Harrison will attend Indiana with other standouts like  Blake Wise, Nikita Kotlov. Matt McKain, Ross Friedman and Jacob Bushue. When he finally does arrive he’ll have yet another set of interesting anecdotes to share with his peers.